02 Dec The View (Because What Gets Your Attention Gets You) Part 5

When we first started Joy Church over eleven years ago, I had one of my staff members find for me a picture of a sanctuary that had a similar size compared to our facility.  I wanted this sanctuary full of people.  As soon as my staff member found such a picture, I immediately put it on my refrigerator so I could view it every day.  Sure enough, it wasn’t long before our sanctuary was filled with people.  We then expanded our sanctuary and it was soon filled up.  So we went to two services and over time, both services were filled.  We then went to three services.  Three services filled up!  So we added an overflow room which on many occasions filled.  Now we have built a beautiful new facility!

You see, what you continually see you’ll eventually be!  What you continually view, you eventually pursue.  What gets your attention…gets you! 

Over the last several weeks we began our series and shared with you our key scripture from Proverbs 4:20-23:

“My son, attend unto my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.  Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.  For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh.  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Then we began to share with you “6 Very Vivacious Viewpoints Verifying the Vitality of the View”:

What I continually see…affects me (Matt. 12:33-35).

2.What I continually see…affects my priority (Matt. 6:22-24).

This week let’s continue:

3. What I continually see…affects my destiny (Prov. 29:18).

Here the Bible tells us, “Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Vision is to the mind what the eyes are to the body. The Hebrew language in this verse literally reads “Without a vision my people cast off restraint.”

My favorite college football team had quite the dilemma a few years ago. Because of the previous coach’s improprieties, the players had no league championship or bowl game that they could participate in. I was fascinated to see how our new coach was going to motivate his team without the “vision” of post season play. I was amazed at the masterful job he did in leading the athletes and giving them vision throughout the football season. My team went 12-0 that year!

Many times you will see older people enjoy their retirement for the first few years, but if they don’t find purpose and vision, you will see them die not too long after retiring. Like these three 75, 76 and 77 year-old widows. The 75-year-old went up the stairs and began to draw a bath. She yelled down to her sisters, “Was I getting in or out of the tub?” Sister number two quickly replied, “I’ll be right up, you old fool!” As she was traveling up the stairs, sister number two yelled down to the oldest sister, “Was I going up or down the stairs?” Sister number three then exclaimed to herself, “As I get older, I sure hope I don’t lose my memory like my other two sisters…knock on wood” (as she knocked on the table). She then yelled up to sister number two and said, “I’ll be right up to help you as soon as I find out who’s knocking at the front door!” Clearly, it is vital to have vision!

Now please don’t mistake me, I am not telling you that you can have anything you imagine. It must be biblically based! However, once you can find Bible for it, you need to have a vision of it! You should have a vision for your:

1. Family

2. Finances

3. Future

As you know, about 22 years ago I almost died. You can’t change your past, it is already written. But you can change your future…it is yet unwritten! I am not going back! I have a picture of me happy and healthy on my refrigerator…I have two scriptures over these pictures:

Psalm 103:5 “Who satisfies thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

I Peter 2:24 “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.”

I have a vision of healing and health in my future! We also have a picture of my son, Jonathan, with the scripture:

Isaiah 54:13 “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.”

We have a vision for our son to be a mighty man of God! The Bible tells us:

Habakuk 2:2-4 “And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie; thought it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.”

Clearly, we are to have vision and write it down so we and others can run with it!

Next week, we’ll continue our series.